TONIGHT’S VOTE, RIGHT? YEAH, MIKE, THAT’S AN IMPORTANT POINT TO REMEMBER. THIS WAS ESSENTIALLY A PROCEDURAL MOVE. IT GIVES THE BOARD A VERY REAL OPTION TO PASS A BUDGET IN JUNE. THAT COULD INCLUDE THE FURLOUGHS OF TEACHERS. LIKE MANY DISTRICTS ACROSS THE REGION AND COUNTRY, MOUNT LEBANON IS FACING CONSIDERABLE RISING COSTS ACROSS INSURANCE, TUITION, TRANSPORTATION AND JUST INFLATIONARY COST INCREASES. OUR ULTIMATE GOAL AS A DISTRICT IS NOT JUST A BALANCED BUDGET, BUT A SUSTAINABLE MODEL THAT WILL GUIDE MOUNT LEBANON INTO THE FUTURE. THE TITLE OF THE RESOLUTION THAT PASSED TONIGHT ITSELF MAKES IT CLEAR THE STAFF REDUCTIONS WOULD BE FUELED BY ECONOMIC REASONS. THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS THE DISTRICT IS FACING A PROJECTED DEFICIT OF $2.5 MILLION, AND ADMINISTRATORS SAY THEIR FINANCIAL FORECASTING REQUIRES FURLOUGHS. THE FOLLOWING ARE WHERE THE FURLOUGHS MAY COME FROM. THE DISTRICT PROJECTS THERE COULD BE A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF 17 PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES WHO PROVIDE DIRECT INSTRUCTION TO STUDENTS AT MOST ONE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF MEMBER, AND THEN A MAXIMUM OF 4% OF EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS, SPECIALISTS AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS. TONIGHT’S SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS SAID THEY SEE FURLOUGHS AS A MEASURE OF LAST RESORT. OUR PEOPLE ARE WHAT MAKE US GREAT AND THAT CAN’T BE LOST IN THIS PROCESS, AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT DOCTOR FRIES AND HER TEAM IN THIS MOMENT HERE, THE CHALLENGE OF THE BOARD AND THE COMMUNITY TO NAVIGATE THESE DIFFICULT WATERS IS IDEALLY WITH MINIMAL IMPACT TO THE FOLKS THAT HAVE DEDICATED THEIR PROFESSIONAL CAREERS TO THIS GREAT INSTITUTION. SO AGAIN, NOTHING CONCRETE AND FINAL DECIDED ON THE FATE OF THESE TEACHERS WHO MAY BE AFFECTED BY ANY POTENTIAL FURLOUGHS. BUT WE WILL KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS MATTER NEXT MONTH. IF FURLOUGHS ARE NOT NEEDED, A BUDGET WILL BE PASSED MAY 20TH. ON THE OTHER HAND, IF THEY DECIDE THAT FURLOUGHS ARE NECESSARY AS PART OF THE FUTURE BUDGET, THAT BUDGET WILL BE PASSED ON JUNE 17TH. WE’RE LIV